The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22
GLOVES.

hmOuB tuo nAuOI requisites VI mOOboru
dress, gloves certainly claim a place of
chief Importance, in virtue of their special
qualities for use and comfort, and of the
finish which they give to the toilet of their
wearers. Few, probably, among the many
who are careful to choose shade which
will best match with their costume, or to
secure the number of buttons which a
due regard to passing fashion demands,
are aware of the historical interest which
attaches to the subject of their study, or
of the curious past records of these arti-
cles of daily wear and tear. which range
in various sorts and sizes, from rough
besrskn mufflers, or solid housemaid's
"handshoes," as the Germans call them,
to the most dainty samples of Partisan
skill.
It may be open 10 question whether
the Chaldee rendering of "glove of the
right hand for 'shoe" is correct, in the
passage in the book of Ruth (B. O. 1245)
which speaks Of the custom of taking of
the shoe in token of the redemption and
Of confirming a right; but we have un-
doubted references of very early date to
gloves in each of their chief uses. Keno
phon, about 400 B. O., tells us that among
other proofs OF Persian effeminacy was the
fact that they wore gloves; and Homer has
drawn picture Of the father of Ulysses
with his hands protected from thorns with
pair of gardening gloves.
Varro, in his treatise upon country life,
lays it down as an important hint that
olives are better gathered with the naked
hand; and still more forcible reference
to these coverings is made by Athen@us,
who says that celebrated glutton of his
day always came to table with gloves on,
that he might be better able to handle
the hot meat, and SO secure a goodly
share of the repast. 1t seems certain
that the use of gloves was rather permit
ted than approved in early days, for q
writer at the close of the first century
goes 80 far as to say, in his denunciation
of the corruptions of his age: at is
shameful that persons in perfect health
should clothe their hands and feet with
soft hairy coverings" As time went on,
however, this prejudice died out, and the
purposes and ceremonies for which gloves
came into common use were multiplied.
Even the church dealt with them as arti-
cles of clerical vestment, and deemed them
Of such Importance that the council Of
Poictiers called some French abbots to &C
count for presuming to wear what was q
necessary and peculiar part of the bish-
ops dress. A larger liberty in this re-
spect was granted early in the ninth GEN.
fury by the council OF AK, at which it
was decreed that monks should wear
gloves of sheepskin. 1t must have been
one of this fraternity who took pity on the
holy dame Gudula, when she was praying
on the cold church pavement at Brussels
without her shoes, and placed his gloves
beneath her feet. Resolute at her devo-
ton, she threw them from her, and the
legend runs that they were instantly
caught upon sunbeam, so that they
hung for an hour suspended miraculous
ly, as on q golden thread.
We all know, from many minstrel
ballad, what an important part the glove
or gauntlet played in days of chivalry.
1t was thrown down as the recognized
challenge to single combat in defense of
innocence, or in defense of foe, or in as
sertion of some disputed right. As near
to our times as the year 1921, at the coro-
nation of George ~. his msjesty's cham
pion carried out, for the last time, the an
cient ceremony of riding completely
armed into Westminster hall, and throw
ing down his glove as challenge to any
who should dare to dispute that sove-
reign's claim to the crown.
A goodly sum was paid for a pair of
richly embroidered gloves in the time of
Queen Anne, but this was as nothing in
comparison with the fancy prices paid for
such as were Of historical value. It is re-
corded that at the earl of Abrams sale.
April 8, 1853, the gloves given by Henry
VIII. to Sir Anthony Denny were bought
for e3S It's; those given by James 1. TO
Edward Denny, for e22 As, while the